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Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
27 Posts
bellybally
2008-04-18 14:12:45
Hi there!

I have never been to turkey before (To be honest never fancied it before - ), but have been reading the turkey forum, with interest, after other half suggested turkey. I am in need of a change from Spain now (If anyone reads the benidorm forumn - you'll prob know me from there!), been to most destinations in Spain now, and to be honest - I'm bored, and need a change of scenery. As the 2009 hol brochures out, I have seen 2 holidays which I am very interested in. Please could you advise which of the following would be more suitable for 2 couples,(40+48) with two 15 yr old sons? (We as a couple), find the evening entertainment an important factor - (Not into nightclubs), but definately livley (But not in your face lively! - the other couple prefer it a bit less lively (God! I'm not making this easy am I). ideally the location (Resort)would be as lively as you wanted, and peaceful if required! (Does that make sense? -I know what I mean, :) Which out of these 2 would you turkey lover's pick?

Club candan - Marmaris (Or) Babadan Apartments Icmeler (Both have great reviews too!)

Many thanks in advance. other suggestions welcome regarding different resorts/apartments/hotels etc...

Belly!
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Lynn m
2008-04-18 14:22:50
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
If you like Bennidorm I think you will like Marmaris.

I would personally go to Icmeler its not as big and you are only a 15 minute bus ride away from Marmaris.

Lynn
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bellybally
2008-04-18 14:35:34
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Thanks Lynn -

Thats the resort I had in mind. I think Marmaris would probably suit us down the ground, but I know (From what I have read), that the other couple would probably find it too lively! If it's only a 15 min journey, I suppose we could hop in a taxi, on a couple of evenings. What is the evening entertainment like in Icmeler? As long as the evening entertainment isn't non-existent, it sounds ideal. (Have been to other destinations where the entertainment has been non-existent!, - and trying to keep a teenager from being bored was a nightmare)- :)

Thanks again for your reply

belly!
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ellie_meg
2008-04-18 14:36:00
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
also is a beach important to you and scenery as icmeler has a much nicer beach than marmaris and slightly more scenic. marmaris is a lot lively and bigger, more bars, shops ,restaurants etc, i prefer icmeler but everyone has different preferences and they are only about 3-4 miles away from each other
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davidstoncold
2008-04-18 14:37:09
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
once you have been to turkey spain will be a distant memory ,ive been all over spain balearics canaries etc and i dont even give booking there a thought always turkey first. ive just come back from cuba and i can say i wont be going back there again 10 and half hour flight , it just wasnt worth it . ill never moan about a 4 and a bit hour flight to turkey again.. :cheers :cheers
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bellybally
2008-04-18 14:39:42
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Hi Ellie /David- Thanks for your reply.

No the beach is not important at all. Forgot to mention that we do like it peaceful in the day, and lively at night. If Marmaris is only 3-4 mile away, - Icmeler sounds ideal! (As long as there is quite a variety of evening entertainment/activities, in icmeler to keep two 15yr olds amused too).

Another reason - which is attracting me, is: I have read a number of reports saying how friendly the people are too - This will be a refreshing change:-)

Belly!
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ellie_meg
2008-04-18 14:50:16
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
yes turkey is loads better than spain in everyway. icmeler has plenty of bars, restaurants to choose so im sure you will be fine there, they have a weekly market to get all your fake copies if you like that sort of thing. lovely beach with boat trips, some water activities etc, plenty to keep you occupied. they adore kids so the kids will be made more than welcome in the bars with the staff dancing with them etc, some of the bars ive seen kids dancing on the top of them. my daughter loves dream boys bar they dance with glasses or fish bowls full of cocktails on their heads on tables up trees etc, really amusing to see
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Lynn m
2008-04-18 14:56:22
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Hi Belly

in Icmeler entertainment is everywhere but pretty much the same its nomally the waiters in the bar that do a show for you. There are karaoke bars and down on the beach from you have a drag show act. There are a couple of discos which every age group goes.

I think there is something for everyone.

Lynn
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chrisg68
2008-04-18 16:31:37
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
we went marmaris last october and stayed in armutalan area at club alpina apartments it was our 1st ever holiday to turkey and loved every minute of it, a friend of ours told us to visit Icmeler although it was a lovely place same bars and restaurants as marmaris we found it too small for us wouldnt like to stay there we prefer marmaris.also we didnt find the beach much different both very shingly not proper sand. In the armutalan area we were surrounded by bars and restaurants and is much quieter than the centre of marmaris, but was only a 5 minute ride to the beach and marina we had a great holiday - make sure you go on a lazy day boat trip they are really good £10 all food and drinks included.
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mikenmarn
2008-04-18 16:51:30
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
I would say Icmeler. Sounds to be right up your street.
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suemart62
2008-04-18 17:28:42
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
hi ,we have stayed at the club candan twice it is great and in a quieter area,but close enough to walk to the lively areas which wer found ideal having teeenagers with us .twice we went by dolumus to iclmer in the evening then got a taxi back.during the day you can get a taxi boat between the two resorts.you will love turkey
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Jay Trip
2008-04-18 17:39:02
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
We stayed at the Club Turban last year after getting an excellent deal from Thomson teletext.This is between Icmeler and Marmaris.I chose it because elderly friends wanted to come with us and they had never been to Turkey before.They have been to Benidorm every year for the last 16!I would have been quite happy with a smaller hotel but the offer was so good I thought it was a nice introduction to Turkey for them.I got sick of my friend saying how beautiful it was,and she wants to go back this year.With the Euro at 1.16 to the pound you will find Turkey mush better value and a better standard of hotel as there are a lot of new ones.The scenery around Marmaris and Icmeler is spectacular and the Turkish people are the very friendly.
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turkeyconvert
2008-04-18 17:56:39
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Have a look at http://www.icmeleronline.com/forum/
there is a forum on Marmaris and Icmeler and plenty of advice.

I have been to both these resorts, and my first impressions of Icmeler was that it was quite small, but after having stayed there, and ventured around all the streets, it is a fair size and plenty going on. It can be as quiet and relaxed as you want it, or as loud and active as you like. Such a variety of bars and restaurants, you will be spoiled for choice.

Me and OH are late 40's early 50's and used to visit Marmaris, but now much prefer Icmeler. Dolmus (local bus) runs about every ten minutes and costs under £1 to go between Marmaris and Icmeler.

Happy searching.
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blodwynpig
2008-04-18 19:17:27
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
have you had a look on the Trip Advisor site-also very informative.
Stayed in Turunc (next along from Icmeler and very laid back.) We loved it, but may be too quiet for you but def worth a visit on the boat taxi from marmaris or Icmeler.
Wouldn't have liked to stay in Marmaris as seemed very busy but that's personal choice.
I would suggest Icmeler as it 's more relaxed than marmaris but not as laid back as turunc.
good luck with your choice; it's hard pleasing everyone :think
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luci HT Mod
2008-04-18 19:27:37
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
We have stayed in Marmaris and like it, but we were in the Armutalan area away from the main noisy drag. We did go down to the main street, but I was always glad to get away and the racket from each bar playing different music at full blast really grated on me.

I loved being able to go back to our quiet area and be able to get some sleep. The bar and restaurants were also cheaper there.

We stayed at Club Anastasia when it had not long opened.

luci :wave
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kazlin
2008-04-18 21:09:34
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Hi, we went to Turkey for the first time last year. I really did not want to go ! But my family wanted to book Lara Beach Hotel as they had spoken to friends and they had said that they had a great time. So we booked and had the best holiday ever and have booked for Turkey again this year. The kids wanted to get back on the plane and return straight away when we got home. We have been to many places abroad but alot of the Turkey five star hotels have such alot of entertainment it keeps kids of most ages busy.Also the hotels are very reasonably priced.Kazlin
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cockney girl
2008-04-19 07:59:28
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Hi belly we always went to spain,and wanted a change and after numerous friends of ours recommended turkey,spain is now a distant memory.The people of turkey are so friendly and once met you will be remembered for years to come.Spain we found very unfriendly but only went for a holiday.With turkey you return year after year to meet up with friends you have met over the years.
We always go to marmaris but i hear icmeler is a lovely place to stay,weve been there numerous times for the day but never for the whole holiday.You will find different sort of trips than spain especially the jeep safari,read up on the reviews,a great day out. :tup
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Scoobyclaret
2008-04-19 10:38:10
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Bbb

Based on your list of requirements I would also go for Icmeler, especially as the lads are 15 rather than 18 as Marmaris can be a bit 'in yer face' in the evenings depending where you go of course.

We are mid forties and found Icmeler just right. Enough going on in the evenings, with great restaurants, and a wide choice of music bars and quieter bars.

I would also echo what a previous poster said about Turunc, well worth a visit by dolmus or water taxi. We stayed there 3 times and it is very laid back and a lot quieter than Icmeler and a world away from Marmaris in terms of nightlife. It also has some great restaurants, especially along the sea front. I would also recommend The Yacht Club (up some stone steps to the left as you get off the water taxi) just for a cold beer and great views out over the bay.

Whichever you go for I would be suprised if you and your family don't enjoy Turkey and would definitely say go for it! 8-)
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blodwynpig
2008-04-19 15:08:21
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
oh , also meant to say that we had been to Menorca and Marjoker in the past but found the Turkish people more friendly (even more so than in Greece which we loved)
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bellybally
2008-04-19 18:00:58
Re: Never been to Turkey before! Fed up of spain! Advice please?
Hi again all!!

Thanks again for all your replies, - It is much appreciated!

Minds have been made up now - Definately Icmeler, - going to get this booked as soon as our friends are back next week. I know it is a long way away, but are really looking forward to our first trip to turkey. We're off to corfu this year, (as other half was determined - he's "Had enough" of Spain !

Thanks for the links too - I'm going to take a look now, (I write everything down too, - best pubs, restaurants, trips etc .... - and put them in a folder, and take them with me!) - How sad eh? . Other's think I'm mad doing this, - but they thank me, after they have had a good meal/night out :)

Thanks again! - Will keep popping in for a read, and probably more advice nearer the time!

Hope you all have a fab holiday!

Cheers

Belly!
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